Building construction



Dec. 3l, 1929. A. F. BEMls 1,741,219

BUILDING coNsTRucTIoN Filed April 5, 1928 4 @y ff5 Dec. 31, 1929. ,A. F. BEMls 1,741,219

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed April 5, 1,928 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 shams-sheet s f @www Z 1] f L, f 4 @a ,..i.,., .www M Dec. 3L 1929. A. F. BEMls BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed April 5, 1928 Mr Il- Dec. 31, 1929. A FQ Br-:Mls 1,741,219

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed April 5. 1928 4 sheets-sheet 4 d Y W Patented Dec. 31, l1929 UNITED STATE-s PATENT OFFICE ALBERT I'XHBQEMIS, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 IBEMIS INITUSTRIES, INC., 0F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A COBPQRATION 0F DELAWARE BUILDING CoNsrIuIo'rIONVV Application led April 3,

This invention relates to an improved form each of which preferably are formed of a plu-` rality of structural elements which may be so assembled and arranged as to provide a frame member sb that the fastening means at wall intersections may lie without the plane of one of the intersecting walls, thus affording means which permits the more convenient assembly of the structural framework and the more convenient application'of the subsequent finish thereto. Further objects of the invention relate to structural features of the frame members which cooperatewith each other to provide connections whichymay be readily assembled.

Furthermore, the present arrangement lends itself to the provision of parts formed with standardized dimensions with means tol engage fastenings or other building parts i located at modular distances, so that the frame members may be manufactured in quantities in an` establishment particularly adapted for the purpose and may be rapidly assembled in situ Without the requirement of a high degree of skill or particular accuracy upon the part of the Workmen.

The above and further objects andadvantageous features of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the subjoined description and claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Q

Fig. 1 is a sectional View of the lower portion of a wall assembly under construction;

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the assembly at the intersection of a vertical anda horizon,-

a vertical wall 1928. Serial No. 266,955.

Fig. 9 is a perspective detail showing a part of a post assembly. y

In the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 indicates aportion of the footing upon which the foundation of a building is to be formed, thefrst story being erected above this foundation. According to one method of constructing a building embodying the improvements provided by/the present invention, plates 2 are first secured to the foundation'l at approximately the positions to be occupied by the central portions of the vertical posts. The vertical posts, designated bynumerals 3 and 4 in Figs. 1 and 2, may be built up of a pluraiity of channels 5 with their legs outstanding in planes at right angles or in alignment with each other. When a post is to be located at the corner formed by vwalls in two intersecting planes, as shown at the right of Fig. 2, one channel is provided to receive the ends of the frame members for each of the planes; thus two channels are provided with their bight portions at right angles to each other, while if the walls are to cross each other, as shown to the left of Fig. i 2, channels are provided at all four sides of the post. At the upper and lower ends of the channels. vThus the vertical posts are built up of two, three or four channels with their bight portions held in engagement with flanges 10 of a fastening member 7 at the upper and lower endsof the post. Y

In order to assist in properly locating the posts and particularly in holding their upper ends in proper position, I make use of one of the standardized girt members 12 which may be afterwards disposed between the upper fportions 'of the same posts. Thus the girt 12 has a length which accurately determines the spacing of the posts 3, and accordingly it first may be. used for properly positioning the lower ends of these posts after the manner shown in Figs. 1 and 2. It is to be understood that the girt member 12is provided with openings 14 spaced at modular distances, which are subsequently to be used for engagement with adjoining parts of the structure. Oneof these openings 14 adjoining each end Iof the member is temporarily engaged with a bracing member 15 which may have a hooked lower portion 16 engaging the edge of the opening and which may comprise similar diagonal barl portions 17 having their upper ends secured to'the adjoining vertical wall of a post 3 by the adj ustable and detachable fastening elements 18 which may take the form of nuts or the like, although obviously a turnbuckle may be arranged Yin the intermediate portion of each of the bars 17 in order to effect suitable adjustment of the parts. The temporary angles 20 preferably are arranged to connect member 12 to the posts, and the fastening elements 18 are then suitably adjusted to bring the upper ends of the posts in proper position so that the girt or sill'member 22 for the first story maybe accurately located between the posts. This girt may be secured in place by fastening means 23 which may be similar to the angles 2() or which may be of any other desired form. After the posts have thus been connected, preferably by two or more permanently located -girt`s, the lowerJ girt 12, which has temporarily served as a spacing and aligning member, maybe removed and concrete may be poured below the sill member 22 and betweenor about the lower portions of posts 3 to provide a foundation. Subsequently girt member 12 may be used as a girt for a subsequent story, for example-at the top of the secondstory.

Fig. 3 illustrates one method in which a girt of this type isv connected iyto the adjoining wall structure and shows more particularly the construction of such a girt. This frame member preferably is built'up of similar structural elements 30 which maybe in the form of channels having surfaces upon their bight portions in juxtaposed parallelism and in abutting engagement with an intermediate spacer pla/te or web member 33. Preferably the legs of the channels are provided with inturned flanges 35, as shown. The spacer plate 33 preferablyhas a depth greater than the depth of the adjoining structural elements so that it provides a longitudinal flange 34 upon at least one side of girt 12. Preferably this flange is provided with openings 35 spaced at modular distances and adapted to receive suitable fastening means.

As shown Fig. 3 a girt of this character may be combined with wall units 36 of the f character disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 72,675, filed December 2, 1925, these units being arranged with suitable, vertically disposed spaces 37 which are adapted to register with openings 14 within walls such as floors 4at each of its sides.

thus being adapted to be located in an intermediate partition which supports horizontal The floor joists 40a, shown in Fig. 4, are disposed in the same general manner as described above but are here shown as being formed of metal. In this form of the invention suitable studs 50 are arranged with end portions of reduced size, designated by numeral 51, engaged within each of the channels 30 and with surfaces 52 juxtaposed to inturned flanges 35. The ends of these studs are preferably held in placeI by means of wedges 53 driven through openings 14 ateach side. of the studs and in engagement with opposite faces thereof.

Fig. 5 illustrates an optional form of thel invention, wherein the girt 604 is formed of similar channels 61 with inturned aligned flanges 62 upon their legs and with an intermediate plate 63 disposed between juxtaposed parallel faces of the channels which are arranged back-to back. Preferably this plate has a greater depth than the channels to provide longitudinal flanges 65 both at the topand bottom of the frame'member. In this embodiment of the invention, it is evident that the intermediatespacer plate is vertically disposed or, in other words, the frame member is disposed in a plane at right angles to that shown in Figs. 3 and 4. With this form of the invention, pairs of openings 66 may be arranged at modular distances in the flanges 65 and may receive wedges 67 which engage opposite faces of studs 68, the latter being slotted, asA designatedvby numeral 69, to have end portions straddling the longitudinal flange. In Fig. 5 another means for securing floor joists 70 to girt 6() is shown, the j oist having a tongue portion 71 received within the channel by angle elements 72 which engage the face of the channel and the mit the filling of the lower portion of member 12 with reinforcing material. For this purpose a metal channel 76 may be located within the lower channel 30 of member 712,/ being provided with openings cfa/suitable size to permit members 75 to extend therechannel 76. A suitable space is left beside each of the members 75 in openings 14 to permit the pouring of cementitious inaterial between ehanels and 76. Subsequent tothis pouring, the studs 150 for the 'succeeding story may be mounted above girt 12, being secured to members 75 by fastening elements 151, as shown. While I have illustrated wooden studs 150 used in this combination, it is obvious that metal studs may be 4equally suitable for this type of assembly.

Thus girt 12 may be greatly strengthened and is adapted to support the entire weight of the wall without necessity for dependence upon the, intermediate stud elements. Fig. 6 also illustrates another means of securing the `floor joists upon the flange 35. In this form of the invention the end of the joist 86 is provided with a slot 87, and suitable bracing straps89 are located at either side of the joistSG having onev end in engagement with Va flange 34 and secured to one of the openings within the flange and Ahaving its other end secured to the vertical face of th-ejoist 86.

Fig. 6 also discloses a slightly different member for securing the post elements to each other. rIhe post 30a is here shown as provided with a capping member 100 having outstanding flanges 101 to rest above the post channels and having downwardly extending flanges 102 intertted with the end of the post and adapted to engage the bight portions of the channels which form the same. Figs. 7 and 8 show a frame member 12 forming a span between supporting members such as the foundation 1 and post 90 and sup` porting a wall thereabove. To this end suitable form boards may be. located below the lower channel 30 and above either side of the frame member to receive poured cementitious material such as concrete. The openings 14 through the bight portions of the channels and the spacer plate 34 permit the poured material to fillI the .lower channel 30 reinforcing the same. rllhe outstanding ledges 34 upon the member 12 may support suitable floor joists. It is evident that the concrete 93 within lower channels 30 forms a reinforcement for the frame member -12 and permits the same to support a wall having a considerable span between its supports.

Fig. 9 illustrates still another form of post end member which may be utilized in place of the members 8 or 102 previously described.

Vadapted to engage the bight portions of the The intermediate v planes, sald frame member comprising a pair channels in order to hold themA properly in place. f

I claim:

1. A building construction comprising two walls in intersecting planes, a frame member extending along the line of intersection, said member comprising face parts clamping therebetween a projecting web part, frame members in one of said walls engaging said projecting web part and frame members in the other of said walls engaging one of said face parts.

2. A building construction comprising two walls in intersecting planes, a frame member extending along the line of intersection, said member comprising face parts clamping therebetween a web part projecting in the planeof one of said Walls, which wall has frame members whose ends bear against the side of said web part, and frame members in the other wall interlocking with one of said face parts.

3. A building construction comprising two walls in intersecting planes, a junction member extending along the line of intersection, said member having an elongate recessed part and a web part extending longitudinallyextending along the intersection of said planes, said frame member comprising a pair of structural elements having juxtaposed faces, a spacing'plate between said faces, said plate having a different depth from that of l the juxtaposed faces, the-frame elements in one wall being connected with one of the structural elements of said frame member, the frame element in the other wall having an interftting engagement with a portion of said frame member, the arrangement of said spacing plate affording means for said inter l fitting engagement.

5. A building construction comprising two walls in intersecting planes, a frame member extending along the intersection of said planes, said frame member comprising a pair of structural elements having juxtaposed faces, a spacing plate between said faces, said plate having a margin projecting beyond thel structural elements to comprise a longitudinal flange, frame elements of one wall being` secured to said flange and frame elements in the other wall engaging another portionl of the frame member. j

6. A building construction comprising two Walls in intersecting planes, a frame member extending along the intersection of said of similar structural elements shaped to provide longitudinal recesses, saidelemen'ts having faces in juxtaposed parallelism, a spacing plate between said faces, said plate having a margin projecting beyond the structural elements to comprise a longitudinal flange,

frame elements of one wall being secured tov said flange and frame elements in the other wall engaging another portion of the frame Y faces, a spacing plate between said faces, said plate having a different depth froma that of juxtaposed faces, the frame elementsof one wall being received within one of said channels ofy the frame member, the fra-me elements in the other wall having an interfitting engagement with a portion of said frame member, the arrangement of said spacing plate affording means for said interfitting engagement.

8.' A building construction comprising two walls inintersecting planes, a frame member extending along the-intersection of said planes, said frame member comprising a pair of structural elements having juxtaposed faces, a spacing plate between said faces, said plate having a different depth from that'of the juxtaposed faces, frame elements of one wall being received within one of said elements of the frame member, frame elements in the other wall having an interfitting engagement with a'pbrtion of said frame member, the arrangement of said spacing plate affording means, for said interfitting engagement, and registeringopenings in the elements and web member for connection with a portion of the wall. l

9. A building construction comprising two walls in intersecting planes, a frame mem ber extending along the intersection of the walls, said walls each having structural elements with one end connected to the frame member, at least a portion of the joint between the frame member and frame elements of one wall lying outwardly from that portion of the frame member which engages the ends of the frame elements in the other wall.

10. A building construction comprising walls meeting at an angle, a structural element extending along the intersection of the walls, frame members in each wall connected to said structural element, and said element having along the length thereof parts extending transversely of each wall for connecltlion with the frame members of the other wa 11. A building construction comprising walls meeting at an angle, a structural element extending along the intersection of the walls, frame members in each wall connected to said structural element, and said element yhaving along the length thereof parts extending laterally beyond the sides of the frame members of one wall, for connection with the frame members of the other wall.

12. A building construction comprising walls meeting at an angle, a structural element extending along the intersection of the walls, frame members in each wall connected to said structural element, and said element having along the length thereof parts extending laterally beyond the sides of the frame members of each wall for connection with the frame members of the othervwall.

13. A building construction comprising a vertical wall, a horizontal fr ame member in the same, said member comprising structural elements with parallell juxtaposed faces, a web plate between said faces and secured thereto, said plate projecting laterally beyond the structural elements to form a ledge, load supporting members disposed in a wall at a plane at an angle to the vertical wall, said members resting upon the ledge.

'14n4 A *building1 construction comprising two walls in intersecting planes, a frame member extending along the intersection of said planes, said member comprising a central web plate, similar structural elements having parallel faces secured to opposite faces of the plate and having flanges extending away fromthe plate, the latter having a margin projecting laterally beyond -the flanges to comprise a longitudinal ledge, frame elements of one wall being secured to said ledge, frame elements of the other wall being connected to another portion of the frame member.

15. A building construction comprising two walls in intersecting planes, a frame member extending along the intersection of said planes, said member comprising a central web plate, similar structural elements having parallel faces secured to opposite faces of the plate and having flanges at each side extending away from the plate adjoining each side of the frame member, the web plate having a margin projecting laterally beyond the flanges at one side of the frame member to comprise a longitudinal ledge, frame elements of one wall being secured to the ledge, frame elements of the other wall being disposed between the planes of the flanges at opposite sides of the member and being seother wall being disposed between the planes of the flanges at opposite sides of the member and being secu red to the latter, and longitudinally disposed, spaced openings in the por- 5 tion of the frame member between the flanges to permit pouring of cementitious material between the last-named frame elements.

Signed by me at Boston, Massachusetts,

this 17th day o f February, 1928.

ALBERT F. BEMIS. 

